ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWe should unite and use our numbers to change the system
QUOTE
U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee
Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security

Jurisdiction: (1) Immigration, citizenship, and refugee laws; (2) Oversight of the immigration functions of the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Ombudsman Citizenship and Immigration Services; (3) Oversight of the immigration-related functions of the Department of Justice, the Department of State, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, and the Department of Labor; (4) Oversight of international migration, internally displaced persons, and refugee laws and policy; and (5) Private immigration relief bills.

Membership: (5:4)

Democratic Members

Edward M. Kennedy, MA (Chair)
Joseph R. Biden, Jr., DE
Dianne Feinstein, CA
Charles E. Schumer, NY
Richard J. Durbin, IL
Republican Members

John Cornyn, TX (Ranking Member)
Charles E. Grassley, IA
Jon Kyl, AZ
Jeff Sessions, AL


SENIOR STAFF

Bill Yeomans, Democratic Chief Counsel
Matthew L. Johnson, Republican Chief Counsel

U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security
224 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Majority Office Phone (202) 224-7878
Majority Office Fax (202) 228-0464

Republican Office Phone (202) 224-7840
Republican Office Fax (202) 228-2281



If you want to start talking to the people who make the laws, the group above would be a good start.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-07 20:15:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
Got 'released' from work a bit early today for Good Friday and I had a little time, so I made some upgrades to the spreadsheet.

You will find at the top to the spreadsheet, links to a separate sheet for CSC filers and a separate sheet for VSC filers. They each have their own respective averages along the bottom as well. Its interesting to see that VSC is approving I-130s in ~164 days while CSC is averaging ~185 days (which is longer than their goal of 6 months).

Again, I am not tracking K-3 filers, only CR1/IR1 filers and I update the spreadsheet a few times a week.

Edited by Delicia, 21 March 2008 - 09:47 PM.

DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-21 21:46:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
You didn't fall off. I am only tracking the IR-1/CR-1 filers and you are listed as K-3. I don't have time to query both visa types so am just doing the I-130 solo filings at this time. Sorry. cray5ol.gif
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-21 19:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
Thanks for the research! I will update the sheet this weekend and add that info in.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-21 15:33:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
It has been updated again. I show no outstanding July filers who haven't gotten their NOA-2s. I show only 3 August filers still waiting (oh man, I feel sorry for you guys, seriously). I have 5 outstanding September filers but the list is still pretty big for October forward for those still waiting for their NOA-2.

Please keep your VJ time lines up to date as that is what I use to populate my spreadsheet.


Have a nice weekend. good.gif
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-20 23:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
Your time line is still reflecting K-3 (click on your 'My Timeline' and see the header). I added you regardless and updated the sheet.

cool.gif

Edited by Delicia, 18 March 2008 - 09:13 PM.

DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-18 21:12:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
I can't update from work but I can post. devil.gif I usually hit the updates every few days or so and last update was 3/15. It really depends on how early I get home from work and/or how tired I am.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-18 15:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
QUOTE (santijs @ Mar 18 2008, 12:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Delicia @ Mar 16 2008, 12:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
/bump for updates. Things are moving along nicely. See it here.


Delicia,

First and foremost - great job on the spreadsheet, its exactly what I was looking! Just FYI, the link you have in the previous post leads to a "not authorized to view this doc" error; however, the link in the original post still works.

Cheers,
SantiJS


I noticed that link doesnt work either a couple days ago and I was well beyond the ability to edit the post. You can also access the sheet through the link to my blog in my signature below.

star_smile.gif
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-18 12:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
/bump for updates. Things are moving along nicely. See it here.

Edited by Delicia, 16 March 2008 - 02:06 AM.

DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-16 02:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
You have been added and godspeed on your journey!
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-11 23:43:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
What a difference 1 week makes. Last week, the average approval wait from NOA-1 to NOA-2 was 93 days. It is now at 119 days. Not good news at all.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-11 12:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
Fixed your info Marlita and added a column to calculate total days from application mailed to NOA-2 with an average at the bottom.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-07 19:37:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
I fixed that, but by your signature, it seems that you are a K-3 filer but your time line says CR-1...
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-06 20:24:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
I am still keeping the list updated. Please note I am doing queries on IR-1/CR-1 time lines only at this point and I am not including time lines entered that are DCF or appear to be erroneous. I have also added a historical average of the days between NOA-1 and NOA-2.

Thanks!
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-06 20:17:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
I have updated the sheet. It is nice to see the NOA-2s coming in now.

good.gif
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-02-24 03:38:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
I have been keeping this updated and am finding NOA-1 receipts via time line searches. If you have received your NOA-1 for an I-130, and are not on this list, it is probably because you haven't updated your time lines.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-01-15 21:38:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
Gotcha both added! Grats!

goofy.gif
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-01-07 23:02:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
I find it odd that only VSC filers are getting their NOA-1s. Now they seem to be ahead of the California filers. reading.gif
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-01-07 01:53:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
I was going to add on to that existing sheet but its seems to be for people who have NOA-1 and waiting on NOA-2. There is a large segment of filers just hanging around waiting on their NOA-1s.

By the way, I am back and updating the sheet as I find new NOA-1s. smile.gif
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-01-07 00:54:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
Grats and got you added!
DeliciaFemaleChile2007-12-28 00:21:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
Any more NOA-1s today? Anyone??
DeliciaFemaleChile2007-12-27 20:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA-1s recently received
I have started a tracking spreadsheet for those I-130 (sorry you I-129fers) filers who got caught in the USCIS delay, roughly August 2007 to present. You can find it here. It is also linked on the top right of my blog (link below).

I will try to update it as often as possible. Be forewarned, my husband is coming to visit next week and the updates will be slow in coming, if at all, as I will have better things to do during that time whistling.gif but I will catch up when he goes home. crying.gif
DeliciaFemaleChile2007-12-26 21:18:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresPregnant and still not in the USA, after a year of waiting : (
Grats on the baby!

I am confused by your time line. It seems the sponsor needs to submit the I-864 to get things moving again. Is there a delay on you or your sponsor's end?
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-21 22:06:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresList of Doctors in Sao Paulo BRAZIL
You will probably have better luck in the Latin America regional forum.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-10 13:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresI-130 NOA1 does not have a Priority Date
The priority date is left blank on the NOA-1. A date will be populated on the NOA-2.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-26 20:25:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresTax returns for which year?
It depends. If the USC submitted the returns electronically, they are usually processed in just a couple weeks, tops. If he filed snail mail, more like a couple months. The USC can call the IRS and request the transcripts just using phone prompts and get it in queue.

I filed my 2007 return at the end of January electronically. I called the IRS and ordered my transcript through their phone prompt system 1 week after filing. I received my refund 2 weeks after filing (received via direct deposit) and had my 2007 transcript in the mail 2 weeks after that. You don't have to wait for the return to be finalized to order the transcript.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-27 01:09:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhy is K1 faster? PLEASE ANSWER.
QUOTE (MarkNAshley @ Mar 28 2008, 12:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am getting frustrated at seeing this topic come up every couple of days/weeks.

I do realize that it is unfair that the processing times are not the same, however, we all make the decision as to what visa we chose to apply for and take actions to follow through with that. It is no big secret that at this time, K-3's are taking longer. When people get married before applying, they are well aware of this and chose this path. The same for those who go the K-1 route.

I am also incredibly tired of being told that my relationship with my fiancee is not as worthy as those who are married. I am so offended by this comment and don't understand how people can say those things. No one can judge any other persons relationship, specially when they know nothing about it.

As for the "A fiance visa is not a guarantee and the person could possibly decide not to marry the person anyway once they get here. With us married folk, we are stuck " - are you unaware of the divorce rates or of how many posts are posted on this website alone a day with the heading "i'm getting a divorce, but I still want my greencard". Nothing is a guarantee these days.

My visa took 11 months from date of filing to having my visa in hand. I chose the K-1 route because i knew doing the K-3 would require me to be apart from my HUSBAND, not my fiancee. I didn't want to spend any time apart after marriage. I would in no way call tihs a 'quick' process.

We all have to wait, and we need to learn to do this patiently and not take it out on other visa types. Everyone agrees that this process sucks, but thats a decision we need to accept when we decide to marry someone in a different country.


Please don't take this as a personal attack. But there is obviously a flaw in the system.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-28 12:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresWhy is K1 faster? PLEASE ANSWER.
I actually posed this question to my senator's aide when I got him on the phone. My senator is on the senate sub-committee for immigration and has served on that committee for several years.

I posed the argument that it would faster for me to divorce my husband (it only takes ~90 days in AZ) and sponsor him as a fiance then it would for the comparable K-3 (divorce time included). He agreed and said he had heard that argument before and it was completely justified. He sated that the K-3 has not been processed or handled as Congress intended since he inception of the K-3 7 years ago. He said now, there have been several bills trying to reform immigration but they are all tabled and they kept getting bogged down with amendments to address the illegal immigration issues. Either way, I am an IR-1 filer and this doesn't help me at all. I filed in October and still am sitting on my thumbs waiting for a NOA-2, but it is a frustrating experience, to say the least.

I don't expect anything to change anytime soon as immigration is such a controversial topic right now. I did write a bit about it on my blog though and posed some ideas of my own on how to improve the system (link in my signature).
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-28 11:37:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresTax Question
You can file jointly; however, think about this: If you have a non resident alien on your return for 2007, you are not eligible for the stimulus rebate coming in May 2008.

You can attach the W-7 to your 1040 but if you elect to file jointly, you will have to include both you and your spouse's world wide income. Not that by attaching W-7 you cannot file electronically and will have to file snail mail. You can deduct the foreign income on Form 2555EZ which excludes the first $80K of foreign income.

You might want to check the Canadian Forum and do a search at the bottom for 'taxes' as there have been tons of threads about this.

Also, a personal request from me: timeline.gif

Edited by Delicia, 30 March 2008 - 11:06 AM.

DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-30 11:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresCaliforna USCIS Processing Time
This is the forum for bringing family members other than spouses. Perhaps they know more.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-31 23:58:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresFiled in Jan. What are we looking at, a year?
It's about 6 months to get approval of the I-130 from USCIS and another 6-8 months to get through NVC and interview at the Consulate, in a best case scenario.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-31 19:07:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresQuestions from New User/I-130 applicant
QUOTE (artigano @ Mar 28 2008, 11:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hello everyone:

I'm a new user on this site. I got married to my Colombian wife about a year ago in Colombia. I'm 44 and she's 21 - so yes there is a big age difference - but her father was 48 when he married her 19 year old mother, so I guess it runs in the family.

I just sent the 1-130 yesterday and I want to be prepared for the Consular interview well ahead of time. So these are my issues:

1. I'm planning to attend the interview in Bogota, but do they let me in? Will they ask us lots of intrusive questions?

2. What about the age difference? Will that come up as an issue and be grounds for denial?

3. What kind of evidence do they look for as evidence of the validity of the marriage? We already have a joint bank account and she's been to the US and met my family and I've been to Colombia many times. We have the wedding pics and pics each other with the respective families, phone bills and emails. Do they look at these?

4. What about the fact that I waited a year to file? Our reason is that she's in university and we agreed that she should complete her degree before she came to the US. She wants to get her MBA here in the US, but she's still in undergraduate.

5. She has a tourist visa so she's been here. Will they give us a problem about that - like why she didn't come to the US on her tourist visa and apply for the green card here? (she wanted to finish college)

Thanks for everyone who has been through this.

Brad


You have many months to wait for an interview grasshopper. I would suggest reading the guides and the NVC flowchart and worry more about the NVC paperwork than the interview (which is likely 1 year or more away from now unless you are a direct consular filer).

I am 20 years older than my spouse which caused issues (as far as I can tell) when I (the USC) tried to unsuccessfully to immigrate to Canada where my spouse lives. After waiting nearly 2 years for Canadian immigration and having no forward progress, I moved back to the U.S. and started the process for my husband to come to the U.S. We will have been married 3 years soon and if that isn't enough proof of a valid relationship, I really don' know what else is. My advice, as others have said, co-mingle your finance (get joint property, bank accounts, credit cards, whatever you can do) and keep pictures, and proof of your communications.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-03-28 11:55:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedureswhere do I file I -130 if i am from Georgia?
You file it with the Chicago Lockbox as the instructions indicate. Chicago will forward it to the appropriate Service Center.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-04-04 18:05:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresdo I need file 129f,I got noa1,but nothing else long time
It looks as though you have received only the NOA-1 for the I-130 submission, not the NOA-2. You are few months away from a NOA-2 based on current time lines. If you want to go for a K-3 instead of a CR-1, then you need to submit the I-129F and all its attachments, prior to receiving a NOA-2 from the I-130.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-04-04 23:04:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Proceduresw2 or 1040
I received my 2007 transcript in February (I filed my return in Jan 2008).
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-04-11 21:11:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresK3 to Cr-1 question
USCIS will not sit on your I-130 waiting for you to submit a I-129F, regardless of what your cover letter read. If you want a CR-1, just do not submit the I-129F.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-04-13 15:26:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresK3 to Cr-1 question
If you haven't submitted the I-129F already, I would just let it ride as is if you want to continue on the CR-1 path.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-04-13 15:00:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresEstimate Time For Interview, Plz Advise
You should try the regional forum that covers India where I presume the interview will be.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-04-13 10:46:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAre they doing it to make money
QUOTE (travelphil @ Apr 13 2008, 12:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Ok, I read all your replies. You all are suggesting that if someone is not happy with USCIS, they should keep it to them selves (or may be just use a forum like this to vent it out) but when we talk with uscis customer service we should be polite.

Reading at all the post before, I got a different idea. I thought people are very frustrated and lookin for a way to show it to USCIS. I was wrong. Let's move on.


You are right that people are frustrated about the delays. I think you are missing the point, however. There are ways to convey this to USCIS without accusing them of being corrupt. There are paths to legitimately investigate the process of your petition without throwing out the unjustified or supported accusations. The actions you took are not going to help anyone.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-04-13 15:31:00
IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresAre they doing it to make money
QUOTE (travelphil @ Apr 12 2008, 05:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Don't know yet.But being nice did not help me so far. If you look at Delicia's list, you will notice so many nice people are waiting from aug, sep... not knowing what else to do.


Actually, not that many. I count 2 Aug filers and 6 Sept filers still waiting on a NOA-2. Perhaps one or two of them just hasn't updated their timelines. Definitely seems like both Service Centers are pretty much concentrated on Oct and Nov.
DeliciaFemaleChile2008-04-12 22:47:00